So why shouldn’t you fall in love with your art? Well, that’s not what I mean! Someone said to me once – or maybe I read it – I suspect it might have been Ron Ranson or Roland Hilder – that it is risky to become attached to a small section of your painting whileRead more ⟶
Tag: tutorial
Lavender Blue, Dilly Dilly
The lavender in our garden is in full flower at the moment and looking lovely. So here is a very quick idea for a couple of lavender themed bookmarks that you might like to add to your repertoire. It’s easy to give them your own personal twist by varying the colors and the supporting castRead more ⟶
If I jump, will I fly?
Painting without a plan has something in common with bungee jumping. Although you know it probably won’t hurt and could be exciting, you’re still pretty nervous about stepping off the edge and letting gravity do its work. There are days when I know exactly what I’m going to paint. Tomorrow for example I know I’mRead more ⟶
Don’t watch this video!
Don’t watch this video if you are looking for slick polished content with not a second of breathing space between words! Don’t watch if you want to see a performance of dazzling skill, impressive mastery of a demanding medium over a tricky subject, or a humbling demonstration of nineteen different tricks you should have knownRead more ⟶
Easy-Peasy Bumble Bee-Zee
Our garden is full of bees at the moment, bumble bees, honey bees and various other types of bee, all buzzing around merrily pollinating the flowers which are merrily giving me hay fever! So today I thought I would paint three quick bumble bees in my loose style, accompanied by some equally loose floral elements.Read more ⟶
From the Archives
Watch this video if you have either of these questions going round in your head: Both these problems are answered in this video which gives you a glimpse inside my studio where the paint gets stuck in its tube, the brush gives up the ghost and I get covered in blue!
Tufted Titmouse and Friends
This tiny bird is very hardy and manages to survive in the far north of America even in the bitterest of cold winters. They are clever birds who store food in cracks in tree bark or in holes, and they manage to remember – unlike squirrels – where they have left the food and canRead more ⟶
Delicate Dragonflies
It’s been a minute or two since I last painted dragonflies, so today’s video is a treat for me and you. Scroll down to the bottom of this post if you want to see links to some of the dragonfly videos I’ve published before. You can find others if you simply search on google forRead more ⟶
Black-Eyed Susans Simple Style
If you want to create a quick and easy yet friendly and fun little message card or gift for a nature lover, you can’t do much better than to paint a page of Black-Eyed Susans! Who doesn’t love these cheerful blooms which liven up so very many gardens? More than a daisy, less than aRead more ⟶
Mixed Media Rocks!
Sometimes it’s just fun to play around with everything you can lay your hands on! In my “art drawer” beside my painting desk I have an assortment of pencils, pens, brush pens, paints and all sorts of things that can contribute to the look of a painting which might have started out as a watercolor.Read more ⟶
Unboxing the Meeden Artists Watercolor set of 24 colors
Meeden Art recently sent me a 24 color set of their 12ml tubes of Artists Watercolors to try out. It is a remarkably low-priced set and I knew I would be very interested to see what colors were included in the set, and to give them a road test to see how they compare withRead more ⟶
Vintage Violas in Watercolor
Painting Vintage Style Pansies – Simple Secrets to Successful Watercolor Sketches Why not start a botanical sketchbook this summer? Take your box of paints and a small mixed media sketchbook like mine from Canson XL and make some simple but charming vintage style sketches while enjoying the sunshine. Any patch of garden or park willRead more ⟶
Watercolor and Ink Poppies
With the Superbloom in full force at the moment what could be more appropriate than a page of poppies? This quick video will give you plenty of ideas for your own poppy fiesta! Any paints are suitable for this style of painting. Materials Here are the materials I used for this little page of poppies.Read more ⟶
Exploring Watercolor Animals
Adding a bit of whimsical fun to your animal paintings is a great way to make them truly special. If you’re looking for a creative card or gift idea, try adding a few whimsical animals to your work. A delightful creature can really bring a painting to life and give it a unique feel. WhetherRead more ⟶
Let’s get Abstract!
We all need more time to relax in our lives nowadays and what better way than letting the paint flow and the brush glide across the watercolor paper? In this video I’m going to talk about how to create a simple abstract without stress. In fact, the whole process is pleasurable and relaxing. What’s notRead more ⟶
Easy Floral Bookmarks to Create
Everyone needs a new bookmark! Come the very first harbingers of spring and our thoughts turn naturally to flowers, and one of the earliest is the crocus. Last month we made bookmarks with a Snowdrop design and this month I’m going to show you how I painted some purple Crocus bookmarks, and just for fun,Read more ⟶
Easy Landscape for Beginners
This landscape is ideal for all beginners, and for anyone wanting to move from painting flowers and leaves into the slightly more challenging field of landscape. So let’s break all the rules – of composition, color theory, and technique – and paint a luminous, evocative landscape we would all love to live in! This landscapeRead more ⟶
Easy Abstract ‘Nature’s Dance’
Let’s paint another abstract in soft muted rose pink and apricot, with contrasts of chocolate and ginger leaves to create a warm, relaxing vibe. Easy as pie especially if you have watched the introduction to abstract art video here https://youtu.be/5mE-Ln9v5Mw as this project builds on what you learnt in the first one. Materials paper Fabriano ArtisticoRead more ⟶